Winterville man facing drug charges in Beaufort County

WASHINGTON, N.C. (WNCT) — A Winterville man has been arrested on drug charges by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

On Wednesday, deputies arrested Arthur Ray Pippins, Jr., 26, of Winterville. The arrest concluded a three-month investigation into his sale of fentanyl in Beaufort County. Deputies seized 268 fentanyl pills, 33 grams of cocaine and $9,156.

Pippins was held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $160,000 secured bond under the following charges:

• (2) counts of Trafficking in Opium or Heroin (Fentanyl)
• (2) counts of Trafficking in Cocaine
• (2) counts of PWISD Schedule II (Fentanyl)

The sheriff’s office reports since January 1st, deputies have seized more than 112 grams of fentanyl off the streets of Beaufort County. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Centers for Disease Control, two milligrams of fentanyl is considered to be a lethal dose. These fentanyl seizures by deputies are enough fentanyl to potentially kill over 50,000 people.

Anyone with information regarding suspected drug sale or use or any other crime to contact the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 946-7111. You can also submit tips anonymously by contacting Beaufort County Crime Stoppers at (252) 974-6400 or submit confidential tips online at www.p3tips.com/195 .

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